U.S. patent application number 11/997738 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-14 for hearing device with an open earpiece having a short vent.
This patent application is currently assigned to GN ReSound A/S. Invention is credited to Miguel A. Cano, Mark T. Sodoma.
Application Number | 20090123010 11/997738 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37125572 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090123010 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cano; Miguel A. ; et
al. |
May 14, 2009 |
HEARING DEVICE WITH AN OPEN EARPIECE HAVING A SHORT VENT
Abstract
The present invention relates to a new type of hearing device
housing having an open canal section that is adapted for fitting in
the ear canal of a wearer and having a short vent, the longitudinal
extension of which is shorter than the longitudinal extension of
the open canal section, and an output port for emission of sound
towards the eardrum of the wearer when inserted in the ear canal,
and an outer ear section for accommodation of electronic components
and being attached to the canal section and adapted for positioning
in front of the ear during use, the short vent reducing the
occlusion effect, wherein the canal section comprises an open and
flexible earpiece manufactured in standard sizes. The hearing
device may be a hearing aid, a headset, a headphone, etc. Unlike a
conventional BTE (Behind-The-Ear) hearing aid having a housing to
be positioned behind the ear, the housing of the hearing device
according to the present invention is positioned in front of the
ear, i.e. in front of the pinna. The positioning of the hearing
device is simple since positioning of the outer ear section is
automatically performed together with the positioning of the open
canal section in the ear canal of the wearer.
Inventors: |
Cano; Miguel A.; (Chicago,
IL) ; Sodoma; Mark T.; (Brookfield, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BINGHAM MCCUTCHEN LLP
Three Embarcadero Center
San Francisco
CA
94111-4067
US
|
Assignee: |
GN ReSound A/S
Ballerup
DK
|
Family ID: |
37125572 |
Appl. No.: |
11/997738 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
August 1, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2006/064900 |
371 Date: |
July 28, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60704255 |
Aug 1, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
381/318 ;
381/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 25/656 20130101;
H04R 2460/11 20130101; H04R 2225/025 20130101; H04R 1/1016
20130101; H04R 25/658 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
381/318 ;
381/328 |
International
Class: |
H04R 25/00 20060101
H04R025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 1, 2005 |
DK |
PA 2005 01105 |
Claims
1. A hearing aid to be worn at the ear with a housing accommodating
a microphone for converting sound into an audio signal, a signal
processor for processing the audio signal into a compensated audio
signal, and a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal
processor for converting the processed compensated audio signal
into a sound signal, the housing having a canal section comprising
an open and flexible earpiece that is adapted for fitting in an ear
canal of a wearer and having a short vent, a longitudinal extension
of which is shorter than a longitudinal extension of the earpiece,
and having an output port for emission of sound towards an eardrum
of the wearer when inserted in the ear canal, and an outer ear
section accommodating the microphone and being adapted for
positioning in front of a ear of the wearer during use, and a sound
tube that is substantially rigid in its longitudinal direction and
flexible perpendicular thereto, and interconnects the outer ear
section and the canal section for transmission of a sound signal
from the outer ear section to the canal section, wherein the outer
ear section does not obstruct the ear canal where the ear canal
opens to an outer ear of the wearer so that the canal section can
provide a venting effect.
2. The hearing aid according to claim 1, further comprising a
system for feedback cancellation.
3. The hearing aid according to claim 1, further comprising a
resilient fibre that is connected to the open canal section for
abutting a surface of the outer ear when the open canal section has
been inserted in the ear canal thereby providing retention of the
open canal section in the ear canal of the wearer,
4. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the outer ear
section further comprises a helix section that is adapted to be
positioned in a helix of the ear of the wearer and that is
mechanically interconnected with the outer ear section with a
bridge section.
5. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the sound tube is
provided for transmission of sound from the receiver positioned in
the outer ear section to the output port of the open canal
section.
6. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the sound tube is
provided for transmission of electrical signals from the output of
the signal processor positioned in the outer ear section to the
receiver positioned in the canal section for emission of sound
through the output port of the canal section.
7. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible
earpiece has a shape of a dome.
8. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible
earpiece comprises a base, and a first sidewall that is attached to
the base and has an edge that extends substantially from the base
to an opening of the earpiece, wherein a width of the opening is
smaller than a width of the ear canal of the wearer.
9. The hearing aid according to claim 8, wherein the flexible
earpiece has a second sidewall, each of the first and second
sidewalls has an edge that extends from adjacent parts of the base
to the opening.
10. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible
earpiece provides venting through a sound transparent sidewall, at
least the edges of the sound transparent sidewall being
sufficiently thin to be transparent to sound, thereby allowing
sound to propagate through the earpiece in the ear canal without
substantial attenuation.
11. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible
earpiece comprises a vent opening.
12. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the earpiece has
a standard size.
13. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the earpiece is
configured to reduce an occlusion effect.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a new type of hearing
device housing having an open in-the-canal section. The hearing
device may be a hearing aid, a headset, a headphone, etc.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A conventional in the ear (ITE) or completely-in-the-canal
(CIC) hearing aid has a housing that is custom made to individually
fit the wearer's ear canal. The hearing aid components, e.g.
electronics, microphone, receiver, battery, etc., are contained in
the housing which is closed at the end pointing out of the ear by a
faceplate. In order to reduce occlusion, a so-called vent, i.e. a
ventilation channel, may provide communication between an opening
in the faceplate and the wearer's ear canal. The vent may be
drilled through the housing or shell, or a pipe or tube extending
within the hearing aid and connecting an opening in the faceplate
with an opening at the opposite end of the housing may constitute
the vent. The effectiveness of the vent increases with increased
cross-section and decreased length of the vent channel.
[0003] Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids in which a sound tube
conducts sound generated by the receiver of the hearing aid into
the ear canal are also well known in the art. In order to position
the sound tube securely and comfortably in the ear canal, an
earpiece is provided for insertion into the ear canal of the
user.
[0004] Typically, the ITE or CIC housing or the BTE earpiece is
individually custom manufactured to fit snugly in the ear canal of
the user without causing pain to the wearer while still retaining
the housing or earpiece securely in place in the ear canal
preventing the earpiece from falling out of the ear irrespective of
movements of the wearer, such as chewing or yawning, and also
avoiding acoustical feedback generating unpleasant and annoying
whistling or howling. The custom made earpiece adds to the cost of
the device and the time needed to fit the hearing aid.
[0005] Typically, customized devices are made from solid materials
to secure retention and tightness. These devices are placed
completely or partially in the ear canal. Since the walls of the
ear canal are moving when the jaws move for instance when chewing,
the placement of such solid devices in the ear canal can be
associated with discomfort for the user.
[0006] Several approaches to eliminate this discomfort have been
tried, one such approach is to make the canal portion of the device
in a soft material, e.g. as disclosed in WO 02/03757 A1. Such
devices are complicated to manufacture and will only offer limited
venting. In the past non-occluding devices have been built as
so-called Helix aids where the bulk of the components are placed in
a housing resting in the Concha area of the ear with one extension
going into the helix part of the outer ear and another extension
going into the ear canal. The extension is so thin that the ear
canal is not occluded. Such devices are custom made, not very
reliable and costly to manufacture due to the high degree of
customization.
[0007] Yet another attempt to overcome occlusion is based on the
fact that only very little sound is transmitted through the bony
parts of the ear canal. By creating a tight seal behind a custom
made device and the walls of the ear canal in the bony part of the
ear canal, no occlusion effect is experienced by the user. This
approach requires the taking of very deep impression of the ear
canal and complex manufacturing steps. A fair number of people have
ear canals that are too narrow or bend in angles that prevent this
solution from being feasible. Also such solutions are quite
demanding when it comes to insertion and retraction.
[0008] The first thing that people being fitted with a hearing aid
note is usually the change of their own voice. They typically
describe the sound of their own voice in one of the following
terms: "My voice echoes", "My voice sounds hollow" or "I sound like
I'm talking in a barrel". Their altered perception of their own
voice is mainly due to occlusion of the ear canal by the housing or
earpiece.
[0009] Sounds originating from the vocal tract (throat and mouth)
are transmitted into the ear canal through the cartilaginous tissue
between these cavities and the outer portion of the ear canal.
[0010] When the ear canal is open, most of this predominantly low
frequency sound simply escapes from the ear canal. However, when
the ear canal is blocked these bone-conducted sounds cannot escape
from the ear canal. The result is a build-up of high sound pressure
levels in the residual ear canal volume. This increase in low
frequency sound pressure is audible and will cause them to hear
their own voice as loud and boomy.
[0011] Change in perception of own voice is the most dominant
occlusion related complaint, but not the only one. Other occlusion
related problems include too much amplification at low frequencies
for hearing aid users with good low frequency hearing, reduced
speech intelligibility, poorer localization, physical discomfort
and increased risk of external ear irritation and infection.
Hearing aid users do not adapt to occlusion and the occlusion
effect has been cited by as many as 27% of hearing aid wearers as a
reason for dissatisfaction with their hearing instruments. This
emphasizes the need for alleviating or, even better, eliminating
the occlusion effect. The most commonly used method to reduce
occlusion-related problems is venting of the otoplastic. While
greater (e.g. more open) venting seems to reduce the own voice
related occlusion complaint, it creates another problem, namely, a
limitation in gain in the high frequencies due to feedback
oscillation. Feedback refers to the amplified sound returning to
the hearing instrument microphone mainly via the earmould or shell
vent or leaks around the earmould or shell. Oscillation arises when
the attenuation provided by the feedback path is smaller than the
hearing instrument gain. Because greater venting reduces the
attenuation in the feedback path, the tendency to feedback
oscillation is also increased. This presents a great challenge in
providing sufficient high frequency gain.
[0012] In WO 2004/010734, a canal hearing device is disclosed
having a dual acoustic seal system for preventing feedback while
minimizing occlusion effects. The two-part device comprises a main
module and an elongated tubular insert for conducting sound to the
eardrum and sealing within the bony region of the ear canal. The
main module is positioned in the cartilaginous portion of the ear
canal. The tubular insert comprises a sound conduction tube and a
cylindrically hollow primary seal medially positioned in the bony
region. The device also comprises a secondary seal laterally
positioned in the cartilaginous region.
[0013] WO 01/08443 discloses a one-size-fits-all hearing aid, which
is adapted to fit into either ear of an ear canal of a user to a
depth proximal to the tympanic membrane. The hearing aid is
comprised of two half shells joined together to house the hearing
aid components. The joined shells secure a flexible tip at the
distal end of the shell.
[0014] US 2001/0043707 discloses a hearing aid assembled from three
sections. The hearing aid includes a first section having a first
housing containing a microphone and electronics, a second section
having a second housing containing a battery a flex circuit mounted
around the battery and a third section having a compliant tip and a
receiver contained within a receptacle in the tip. The tip includes
a mushroom shaped portion and a shank or sound port attached to the
mushroom shaped portion. The tip can also include a body connected
to the sound port. During the manufacturing process, the tip can be
formed entirely of silicone rubber. The tip can also be cast in a
mold using various durometer rubbers. By selecting the appropriate
durometer for the tip and the correct inner diameter and outer
diameter ratio of the shank, a spring is not needed within the
shank to allow for flexibility of the tip. For example, the
mushroom tip can be a very soft 10 durometer; the sound port 40 can
be a more stable 40 durometer, and the body, which normally would
be a part of the hard shell, a more stable 60 durometer. The ratio
of the OD of the shank with respect to the ID of the shank is
approximately 2:1. The use of different durometer materials in the
tip, along with an appropriate OD to ID ratio, provides flexibility
in the tip.
[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
hearing device wherein at least a part of the hearing device can be
securely and comfortably fastened inside the ear canal of a user
and that substantially does not cause occlusion of the ear
canal.
[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide the
hearing device in standard sizes eliminating the need for
customization.
[0017] According to the present invention, the above and other
objects are fulfilled by a hearing device to be worn at the ear
with a housing having an open canal section that is adapted for
fitting in the ear canal of a wearer and having a short vent, the
longitudinal extension of which is shorter than the longitudinal
extension of the open canal section, and an output port for
emission of sound towards the eardrum of the wearer when inserted
in the ear canal, and an outer ear section for accommodation of
electronic components and being attached to the canal section and
adapted for positioning in front of the ear during use, the short
vent reducing the occlusion effect, wherein the canal section
comprises an open and flexible earpiece manufactured in standard
sizes.
[0018] The hearing device may be a hearing aid, a headset, a
headphone, etc.
[0019] Unlike a conventional BTE (Behind-The-Ear) hearing aid
having a housing to be positioned behind the ear, the housing of
the hearing device according to the present invention is positioned
in front of the ear, i.e. in front of the pinna. The positioning of
the hearing device is simple since positioning of the outer ear
section is automatically performed together with the positioning of
the open canal section in the ear canal of the wearer.
[0020] In a hearing aid, the hearing aid housing comprises a
microphone for converting sound into an audio signal, a signal
processor for processing the audio signal into an audiosignal
compensating a hearing defect, and a receiver that is connected to
an output of the signal processor for converting the processed
compensated audio signal into a sound signal.
[0021] It is an important advantage of the present invention, that
the vent may be very short, namely equal to the thickness of the
wall of the canal section at the vent opening.
[0022] A venting tube, e.g. inside the canal section, may be
provided wherein the inner volume of the tube communicates with the
vent opening in the wall of the canal section for obtaining a
desired length of the vent, e.g. equal to the sum of the length of
the tube and the thickness of the wall. The length and diameter of
the tube may be designed to obtain a desired low frequency gain.
Although the vent with the tube will be longer than the thickness
of the wall, it will remain shorter than the longitudinal extension
of the open canal section thereby maintaining a low occlusion
level.
[0023] Preferably, the canal section is substantially empty leaving
as much space available for the vent as possible, i.e. maximising
the cross-section of the vent to minimize the occlusion effect. A
few components may be located inside the canal section provided
that sufficient space remains available for the vent to
significantly reduce the occlusion effect. Such components may
include, but is not limited to, a receiver for conversion of an
electronic signal into sound, a sound tube, a cerumen filter,
etc.
[0024] Preferably, the outer ear section does not obstruct the ear
canal where it opens to the outer ear so that the venting effect
provided by the canal section remains effective.
[0025] The outer ear section provides space for electronic
components of the hearing device. These components may include, but
is not limited to, one or more microphones, amplifiers, batteries,
control circuits, electrical contacts and connectors, etc.
[0026] In one embodiment, the outer ear section and the canal
section form an integral housing that is manufactured in one
piece.
[0027] In another embodiment, the outer ear section and the canal
section are manufactured as separate parts that are interconnected
mechanically and possibly electrically during production of the
hearing device.
[0028] Sound signals may propagate as acoustic signal from a
receiver positioned in the outer ear section of the hearing device
and through a sound tube to an output port at the end of the canal
section for transmission of the sound to the eardrum in the ear
canal.
[0029] Sound signals may alternatively propagate as electrical
signals from the output of a signal processor in the outer ear
section and through the sound tube to a receiver in the canal
section that is positioned for emission of sound through the output
port of the canal section.
[0030] In one embodiment, the canal section and the outer ear
section are mechanically interconnected by the sound tube. The
interconnecting sound tube has a small cross-section causing
minimum obstruction of the ear canal so that insertion of the sound
tube in the ear canal substantially does not diminish the venting
effect provided by the open canal section.
[0031] Further, provision of sound tubes in different standard
lengths makes it possible to assemble hearing aids according to the
invention that is adapted for the specific insertion depth of the
open canal section into the ear canal of the user.
[0032] A hearing aid that is composed by a standard sized housing,
a standard sized sound tube, and a standard sized earpiece, which
standard sized components may be manufactured in a number of sizes
and forms, makes it possible to assemble a hearing aid that that is
adapted for the individual user, while at the same time avoiding
the drawbacks of custom made hearing aids, such as the lengthy and
costly manufacturing procedure of custom made earpieces. By
supplying a dispenser with components (housing, earpieces and sound
tubes) of various standard sizes and forms it will be possible for
the dispenser to readily select those components that are best
suited for each individual user. Typically, each component need
only be produced in a few standard sizes in order to be able to
assemble a hearing aid for almost any user.
[0033] Provision of sound tubes with different diameters makes it
possible to adjust the resulting venting or openness of the
assembled hearing aid by selecting a sound tube diameter causing
the required degree of obstruction of the ear canal of the
user.
[0034] In one embodiment of the invention, the hearing device
housing further comprises a helix section that is adapted to be
positioned in the helix of the ear of the wearer and that is
mechanically interconnected with the outer ear section via a bridge
section. The helix section, the bridge section and the outer ear
section preferably form an integral unit that is manufactured in
one piece. Positioning of the microphone(s) of the hearing device
in the helix section creates a large distance between the
microphone(s) and the receiver thereby minimizing feedback.
Further, the helix section assists in retaining the housing in the
ear of the wearer. The helix section and the bridge section may
also accommodate hearing device components.
[0035] The housing according to the present invention is
manufactured in a number of standard sizes to fit the human anatomy
of the ear of most users whereby the manufacturing cost is
lowered.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an earpiece for
insertion into the ear canal of the user constitutes the open canal
section.
[0037] Preferably, the earpiece is flexible for comfortable
accommodation of the earpiece in the ear canal of the user
providing a high level of comfort. The flexible earpiece remains
securely in place in the ear canal without falling out of the ear
irrespective of movements of the wearer, such as chewing or
yawning, without causing pain to the wearer, and due to the short
vent acoustical feedback generating unpleasant and annoying
whistling or howling is also avoided.
[0038] The earpiece and the outer ear section may be interconnected
with a substantially rigid sound tube for transmission of sound
from a receiver in the outer ear section to the output port of the
earpiece. The substantially rigid sound tube is flexible in a
direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tube;
however, the tube is substantially rigid, i.e. substantially not
flexible (compressible or extendable), along its longitudinal
direction thereby providing capability of retention of the earpiece
in the ear canal of the wearer. During positioning of the outer ear
section in its intended position at the outer ear in front of the
user's pinna during use, the transverse flexibility of the tube
facilitates insertion of the earpiece into the ear canal of the
user.
[0039] Further, for embodiments with an outer ear section that is
retained within or at the outer ear after positioning in its
intended position, the rigidity of the tube along its longitudinal
extension will further prevent the earpiece from falling out of the
ear canal.
[0040] Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a flexible
earpiece for positioning in the ear canal of a user is provided
that comprises a base, and at least one sidewall that is attached
to the base and has an edge that extends substantially from the
base to an opening of the earpiece. The width of the opening may
fit within the ear canal of the user.
[0041] The base constitutes the bottom of the earpiece, i.e. the
part of the earpiece that is supposed to be positioned deepest in
the ear canal when a user wears the earpiece. The base is
sufficiently rigid and thick to carry and support the attached
sidewall without being deformed. The sidewall is made from a thin
sheet of a soft and flexible material and it functions to hold the
earpiece in an intended position within the ear canal of the user.
In this position, the base does not touch the ear canal. The edge
of the sidewall allows the sidewall to adjust to the size and shape
of the user's ear canal as the edge may move along the surface of
the ear canal when the earpiece is being inserted and pressure
thereby is applied to the sidewall by the ear canal. The
circumferential displacement of the edge allows the sidewall to
adjust to the shape and size of the user's ear canal without
wrinkling and loosing contact with the ear canal so that
undesirable leaks do not occur.
[0042] Preferably, the earpiece has a first sidewall and a second
sidewall, each of which has an edge that extends from adjacent
parts of the base to the opening. This arrangement of the sidewalls
and their respective edges allows the edges to move in the
direction of the circumference of the earpiece in opposite
directions during insertion into or removal from the ear canal.
[0043] In a preferred embodiment, the sidewalls are mutually
overlapping. In this case, the edge of the first sidewall is
covered by the second sidewall whereby only one of the edges is in
direct contact with the skin of the ear canal when the earpiece is
in use. This reduces the risk of undesired openings or leaks in the
earpiece along the edges of the sidewalls.
[0044] Preferably, the sidewall of the earpiece has a generally
conical shape. Thus, the insertion depth of the earpiece in a
wearer's ear canal may be chosen to correspond to the size of the
specific ear canal, which should be somewhere in between the
smallest and largest cross sections of the conical sidewall.
Thereby, the earpiece may fit into a wide range of sizes of ear
canals.
[0045] The conical shape may have a substantially elliptical
cross-section. This is advantageous, as most ear canals are, more
or less, oval or elliptical in shape. Thus, the earpiece will fit
well and will also be easier for the user to insert in an optimal
position in the ear canal.
[0046] Preferably, the first sidewall is thickest along the edge of
the first sidewall, while the second sidewall is thinnest along the
edge of the second sidewall. Thus, the first sidewall will be more
rigid along its edge, while the second sidewall will be softer or
more flexible along the edge. If the edge of the second sidewall is
positioned between the ear canal and the first sidewall, then the
rigidness of the first sidewall will provide an outward pressure on
the second sidewall in the direction of the ear canal surface. The
flexibility of the second sidewall therefore assures close contact
between itself and both of the first sidewall and the surface of
the ear canal. Thereby, undesired leaks are prevented along the
edges of the sidewalls as well as a close and tight fit in the ear
canal.
[0047] The thinnest parts of the sidewalls are preferably about
half the thickness of the thickest parts. The thinnest part may
have a thickness in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, such as in the
range of 0.1 mm to 0.45 mm, such as in the range of 0.15 mm to 0.4
mm, such as in the range of 0.2 mm to 0.35 mm, such as in the range
of 0.25 mm to 0.3 mm. Accordingly, the thickest part may have a
thickness in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm, such as in the range of
0.2 mm to 0.9 mm, such as in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm, such as
in the range of 0.4 mm to 0.7 mm, such as in the range of 0.5 mm to
0.6 mm.
[0048] The base of the earpiece preferably comprises an output
port, e.g. an opening, for emission of sound into the ear canal of
the user.
[0049] A sound tube may be attached to a connector for
communication with the output port. The sound tube transmits sound
output from the receiver of the hearing device and emits it into
the ear canal through the output port.
[0050] Furthermore, the base may comprise a vent. When the earpiece
is inserted into the user's ear canal, the vent provides
communication between the ear canal behind the base of the earpiece
and the surroundings. The vent opening may be a hole in the base
having a substantially circular or elliptical shape. Thereby,
occlusion is prevented and the user may furthermore be able to
receive sound bypassing the hearing device processing, i.e. natural
sound. The latter is often desirable e.g. in headsets, headphones,
or hearing aids when the user has a limited hearing impairment,
such as in the high frequency range. In this case, the user may
hear low frequency sounds very well and therefore does not need the
hearing device to process these signals.
[0051] Often, it is not desirable that the user receives the same
sound both naturally through the vent and processed by the hearing
device. This may be the case e.g. when the hearing device
processing causes an audible delay between the natural and
processed sound. To avoid this, the vent opening may be connected
to an acoustic filter extending from the base. The acoustic filter
may be a low-pass filter, a band-pass filter or a high-pass filter
designed to fit a group of typical frequency dependent hearing
losses in the sense that sound which the user will be able to hear
naturally is transmitted by the filter, while sound in the
frequency range that is subject to hearing impairment will not be
transmitted by the filter. Thereby, the user will hear either
natural or processed sound instead of a possibly distorted mixture
of these.
[0052] Preferably, the base comprises a recess extending
substantially across the base. The recess may act as a hinge since
it divides the base into two parts allowing the base to bend along
the recess when pressure is applied to the sidewall(s) of the
earpiece. Thereby, deformation of the base is controlled along the
recess. Hereby, deformation of a vent is prevented when the base is
subjected to stress during use of the earpiece.
[0053] The earpiece is preferably moulded as an integral unit. A
highly suitable material is silicone.
[0054] Retention of the device in the proper place is important.
Jaw movements during chewing for instance can exert outward forces
on the canal portion of the device. In certain embodiments on the
invention the shape and placement of the housing in or partly in
the outer ear will counteract this force sufficiently. In other
embodiments or certain ear anatomy this may not be the case
wherefore other means for retention may have to be applied. Such
means could be a pliable or resilient plastic strip or fibre
extending from the housing into a part of the ear that secures the
device from outward motion. For example, a resilient fibre may be
connected to the open canal section for abutting a surface of the
outer ear when the open canal section has been inserted in the ear
canal thereby providing retention of the open canal section in the
ear canal of the user. Such a strip or fibre could be designed as
an accessory to be applied when needed or be integral with the
housing. Alternatively, an adhesive pad may be provided on the
housing attaching the device to the concha bowl.
[0055] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, feedback
compensation is provided. Feedback is a well-known problem in
hearing aids and several systems for suppression and cancellation
of feedback exist within the art. With the development of very
small digital signal processing (DSP) units, it has become possible
to perform advanced algorithms for feedback suppression in a tiny
device such as a hearing aid, see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,580,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,467 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,498,858.
[0056] The above mentioned prior art systems for feedback
cancellation in hearing aids deal with external feedback, i.e.
transmission of sound between the loudspeaker (often denoted
receiver) and the microphone of the hearing aid along a path
outside the hearing aid device. This problem, which is also known
as acoustical feedback, occurs e.g. when a hearing aid earpiece
does not completely fit the wearer's ear, or in the case of an
earpiece comprising a vent. In both examples, sound may "leak" from
the receiver to the microphone and thereby cause feedback.
[0057] The problem of external feedback limits the maximum gain
available in a hearing aid.
[0058] Thus, the hearing instrument may further comprise a feedback
compensation circuit for providing a feedback compensation signal
of signals picked up by the microphone by modelling an acoustical
and mechanical feedback signal path of the hearing aid, subtracting
means for subtracting the feedback compensation signals from the
audio signal to form a compensated audio signal, which is input to
the signal processor of the hearing instrument.
[0059] The feedback signal path is typically an acoustic path
between the microphone and the receiver, i.e. an external feedback
signal propagates through air surrounding the hearing aid.
[0060] Preferably, the feedback compensation means comprises an
adaptive filter, i.e. a filter that changes its impulse response in
accordance with changes in the feedback path.
[0061] Both static and adaptive filters are well known to a person
skilled in the art of hearing aids, and will therefore not be
discussed in further detail here.
[0062] The invention will now be described in further detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0063] Below, the invention will be further described and
illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0064] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention from two
different angles,
[0065] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment corresponding to the
embodiment of FIG. 1 with a different earpiece,
[0066] FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment positioned in the ear of a
user,
[0067] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an earpiece according to the
invention,
[0068] FIG. 5 shows the earpiece of FIG. 4 from a different
angle,
[0069] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of an earpiece according to
the invention,
[0070] FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the invention from two
different angles,
[0071] FIG. 8 shows the third embodiment positioned in the ear of a
user,
[0072] FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention from two
different angles,
[0073] FIG. 10 shows the fourth embodiment positioned in the ear of
a user,
[0074] FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention,
[0075] FIG. 12 shows the fifth embodiment positioned in the ear of
a user,
[0076] FIG. 13 shows a sixth embodiment of the invention, and
[0077] FIG. 14 shows the sixth embodiment positioned in the ear of
a user.
[0078] FIG. 1 shows in perspective from two different angles, a
hearing device according to a first embodiment of the present
invention, having a housing 10 with an open canal section in the
form of a dome-shaped earpiece 12 that is adapted to be positioned
in the ear canal 14 of a wearer comfortably fitting the ear canal
14 for retention of the earpiece 12 in the ear of the wearer. The
earpiece 12 has an output port 16 for emission of sound towards the
eardrum of the wearer. The earpiece 12 further has vents 22 that
allow sounds outside and within the ear to pass through the ear
canal through the earpiece 12 thereby substantially eliminating the
occlusion effect when the earpiece 12 is inserted into the ear
canal of the wearer.
[0079] The earpiece 12 material may be a soft elastomer, such as
silicone rubber or other soft plastic. The earpiece 12 material
preferably has a durometer of about 30 Shore A.
[0080] The housing 10 further comprises an outer ear section 24
that is connected to the earpiece 12 for accommodation of hearing
device components and adapted for positioning at the concha 26 of
the ear during use. The outer ear section 24 is manufactured in two
parts 40, 42 and has an opening 44 extending through the outer ear
section 24 facilitating communication between the ear canal and the
surroundings of the wearer. A battery lid 46 is provided at an end
of the outer ear section 24. The battery lid 46 has a compartment
accommodating the battery. The battery compartment swings out of
the outer ear section 24 when the battery lid is opened whereby the
battery may be exchanged with a new battery.
[0081] The outer ear section 24 and the earpiece 12 are
interconnected with a substantially rigid sound tube 20. The sound
tube 20 provides a sound propagation path for sound signals emitted
by a receiver (not shown) positioned in the outer ear section 24 of
the hearing device 10 to the output port 16 at the end of the
earpiece 12 for transmission of the sound to the eardrum (not
shown) in the ear canal 14. The sound tube 20 is flexible in a
direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tube
20; however, the tube 20 is substantially rigid, i.e. substantially
not flexible (compressible or extendable), along its longitudinal
direction thereby providing retention of the earpiece 12 in the ear
canal 14 of the wearer. During positioning of the outer ear section
24 at the concha 26 of the ear for retention of the outer ear
section in the outer ear behind the tragus 13 and the anti-tragus
15, the transverse flexibility of the tube 20 facilitates insertion
of the earpiece 12 in the ear canal 14 and the rigidity of the tube
20 along its longitudinal extension will prevent the earpiece 12
from falling out of the ear canal 14 when the outer ear section is
positioned at the concha as shown in FIG. 3.
[0082] As clearly seen in FIG. 1, the vent 22 is very short, namely
equal to the thickness of the wall of the earpiece 12 and has a
large cross-section whereby the occlusion effect is substantially
eliminated.
[0083] The outer ear section 24 accommodates the hearing device
components (not shown), such as the microphone(s), amplifier,
battery, controls, electrical contacts and connectors, etc.
[0084] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment similar to the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1, however, with a different earpiece 12 shown in
more detail in FIGS. 4-6. The illustrated second embodiment
includes a substantially rigid sound tube 20 identical to the sound
tube described in relation to FIG. 1.
[0085] FIGS. 4-6 show the earpiece 12 of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 2 in more detail. This earpiece 12 has two sidewalls 51, 52
extending from a base 53. The sidewall 51 has edges 54 and is
somewhat smaller, i.e. the sidewall 51 extends along a shorter part
of the circumference of the base, than sidewall 52, which has edges
56. Together, the sidewalls 51, 52 form a conical sidewall. The
smaller sidewall 51 is positioned so that its edges 54 may move
relative to the edges 56 within the larger sidewall 52 when
pressure is applied to (or released from) the sidewalls when the
earpiece 12 is accommodated in a user's ear canal. Both sidewalls
51, 52 have rounded transition sections 55, 57 between the edges
54, 56 and the outer rim of the sidewalls 51, 52. This reduces the
risk of collision between the edges 54, 56 in comparison to e.g.
sidewalls with simple sharp corners. A sound tube connector 58 may
be provided on the base 53 above the output port (not shown) in the
base 53 through which sound provided by a sound tube (not shown)
may be injected into the ear canal of the user. A protrusion 59 may
be provided on the side of the connector 58 fitting a corresponding
recess in the sound tube whereby the sound tube may be connected to
the earpiece in a predetermined angular orientation. Finally, a
vent 22 is provided in the base 53.
[0086] It should be noted that the outer sidewall 52 is thinner
than the inner sidewall 51 in the regions close to the respective
edges 56 and 54. Therefore, the outer wall will tend to be softer
and more flexible in the vicinity of the edges 56 than the inner
wall in the corresponding regions. Thus, when the earpiece 12 is
inserted into a user's ear canal, the rigidness of the inner
sidewall 51 will provide an outward pressure on the overlapping
part of the outer sidewall 52 in the direction of the ear canal
surface. The flexibility of the outer sidewall 52 at the same time
provides close contact between itself and both of the inner
sidewall 51 and the surface of the ear canal. Thereby, undesired
leaks are prevented along the edges 54, 56 of the sidewalls 51, 52
and a close and tight fit in the ear canal is provided.
[0087] Furthermore, the inner wall 51 is thinnest, and therefore
most flexible, in the part about midway between the edges 54. This
further enhances the above effect, that the inner wall 51 will
provide a pressure on the overlapping part of the outer wall 52.
Analogously, the outer wall 52 has its thickest section about
halfway between its edges 56.
[0088] The thinnest parts of the sidewalls 51, 52 are preferably
about half the thickness of the thickest parts. The thinnest parts
may thus have a thickness in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, such
as in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.45 mm, such as in the range of 0.15
mm to 0.4 mm, such as in the range of 0.2 mm to 0.35 mm, such as in
the range of 0.25 mm to 0.3 mm. Accordingly, the thickest parts may
have a thickness in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm, such as in the
range of 0.2 mm to 0.9 mm, such as in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.8
mm, such as in the range of 0.4 mm to 0.7 mm, such as in the range
of 0.5 mm to 0.6 mm.
[0089] Further, FIG. 5 shows a recess 60 provided in the outward
facing surface of the base 53. This recess 60 extends across the
oval base 53, thus dividing the base 53 into two sections, one
containing the vent 22, and another containing the output port 16
for emission of sound into the user's ear canal. The recess 60
functions as a hinge, so that a force that is exerted upon the
sidewalls 51, 52 will cause the two sections of the base 53 to bend
along the recess 60. Thereby, the base 53 is exposed to less
stress, and deformation of the vent opening 22 is avoided.
[0090] When the earpiece is inserted into a user's ear canal,
pressure is applied to the sidewalls. This will cause the edges to
move so that the overlap increases and the circumference of the
sidewall decreases correspondingly. The pressure applied to the
sidewall by the user's ear canal will provide close contact between
the overlapping parts of the sidewalls so that no leaks occur along
the edges of the sidewall. The illustrated earpiece fits a large
number of users while providing a high level of comfort.
[0091] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention,
wherein a vent 22 is provided as a short tube 56 parallel to and
integral with a sound tube connector for receiving and holding the
sound tube 20. Depending on the length and cross-sectional shape of
the venting tube 56, this vent 22, 56 may function as an acoustic
filter, such as a low pass filter.
[0092] It has surprisingly been found that the earpieces
illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 may provide venting even without a vent 22
in the base 53. This is believed to be due to the walls 51, 52, at
least at the edges 54, 56, being sufficiently thin to be
transparent to sound so that sound propagates through the earpiece
in the ear canal substantially without attenuation whereby the user
does not experience the occlusion effect.
[0093] FIGS. 7 and 9 show in perspective from two different angles,
a hearing device according to a third and a fourth embodiment,
respectively, of the present invention, having a housing 10 with an
open canal section in the form of a dome-shaped earpiece 12 that is
adapted to be positioned in the ear canal 14 of a wearer
comfortably fitting the ear canal 14 for retention of the earpiece
12 in the ear of the wearer. The earpiece 12 has an output port 16
for emission of sound towards the eardrum of the wearer. The
earpiece 12 further has vents 22 that allow sounds outside and
within the ear to pass through the ear canal through the earpiece
12 thereby substantially eliminating the occlusion effect when the
earpiece 12 is inserted into the ear canal of the wearer.
[0094] The housing 10 further comprises an outer ear section 24
that is connected to the earpiece 12 for accommodation of hearing
device components and adapted for positioning at the concha 26 of
the ear during use as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, respectively. The
outer ear section 24 further comprises a helix section 28 that is
adapted to be positioned in the helix 30 of the ear of the wearer
and that is mechanically interconnected with the outer ear section
24 with a bridge section 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the
helix section 28, the bridge section 32 and the outer ear section
24 form separate units that are manufactured in separate pieces.
Positioning of the microphone(s) (not shown) at the microphone
input port 34 of the hearing device in the helix section 28 creates
a large distance between the microphone(s) and the receiver thereby
minimizing feedback. Further, the helix section 28 assists in
retaining the housing 10 in the ear of the wearer. The helix
section 28 and the bridge section 32 may also accommodate hearing
device components.
[0095] Positioning of the microphone(s) of the hearing device in
the helix section 28 creates an increased distance between the
microphone(s) and the output port 16 as compared to the
corresponding distance in conventional ITE and CIC hearing aid
devices whereby feedback is diminished.
[0096] The outer ear section 24 is manufactured in two parts 40,
42. A battery lid 46 is provided at an end of the outer ear section
24. The battery lid 46 has a compartment accommodating the battery.
The battery compartment swings out of the outer ear section 24 when
the battery lid is opened whereby the battery may be exchanged with
a new battery. The outer ear section 24 and the earpiece 12 are
interconnected with a substantially rigid sound tube 20. The sound
tube 20 provides a sound propagation path for sound signals emitted
by a receiver (not shown) positioned in the outer ear section 24 of
the hearing device 10 to the output port 16 at the end of the
earpiece 12 for transmission of the sound to the eardrum (not
shown) in the ear canal 14. The sound tube 20 is flexible in a
direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tube
20; however, the tube 20 is substantially rigid, i.e. substantially
not flexible (compressible or extendable), along its longitudinal
direction thereby providing retention of the earpiece 12 in the ear
canal 14 of the wearer. During positioning of the outer ear section
24 at the concha 26 and the helix 30 of the ear, the transverse
flexibility of the tube 20 facilitates insertion of the earpiece 12
in the ear canal 14 and the rigidity of the tube 20 along its
longitudinal extension will prevent the earpiece 12 from falling
out of the ear canal 14 when the outer ear section is positioned at
the outer ear in front of the pinna at the concha and helix as
shown in FIGS. 8 and 10.
[0097] The outer ear section 24 accommodates the hearing device
components (not shown), such as the microphone(s), amplifier,
battery, controls, electrical contacts and connectors, etc.
[0098] FIG. 11 shows in perspective from two different angles, a
hearing device according to a fifth embodiment of the present
invention, having a housing 10 with an open canal section in the
form of a dome-shaped earpiece 12 that is adapted to be positioned
in the ear canal 14 of a wearer comfortably fitting the ear canal
14 for retention of the earpiece 12 in the ear of the wearer. The
earpiece 12 has an output port 16 for emission of sound towards the
eardrum of the wearer. The earpiece 12 further has vents 22 that
allow sounds outside and within the ear to pass through the ear
canal through the earpiece 12 thereby substantially eliminating the
occlusion effect when the earpiece 12 is inserted into the ear
canal of the wearer.
[0099] The housing 10 further comprises an outer ear section 24
that is connected to the earpiece 12 for accommodation of hearing
device components and adapted for positioning at the concha 26 of
the ear during use. The outer ear section 24 further has a
protrusion 48 that fits in the space between the tragus 13 and
anti-tragus 15 of a human ear for retention of the outer earpiece
24.
[0100] The outer ear section 24 is manufactured in two parts 40, 42
and has an opening 44 extending through the outer ear section 24
facilitating communication between the ear canal and the
surroundings of the wearer. A battery lid 46 is provided at an end
of the outer ear section 24. The battery lid 46 has a compartment
accommodating the battery. The battery compartment swings out of
the outer ear section 24 when the battery lid is opened whereby the
battery may be exchanged with a new battery.
[0101] The outer ear section 24 and the earpiece 12 are
interconnected with a substantially rigid sound tube 20. The sound
tube 20 provides a sound propagation path for sound signals emitted
by a receiver (not shown) positioned in the outer ear section 24 of
the hearing device 10 to the output port 16 at the end of the
earpiece 12 for transmission of the sound to the eardrum (not
shown) in the ear canal 14. The sound tube 20 is flexible in a
direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tube
20; however, the tube 20 is substantially rigid, i.e. substantially
not flexible (compressible or extendable), along its longitudinal
direction thereby providing retention of the earpiece 12 in the ear
canal 14 of the wearer. During positioning of the outer ear section
24 at the concha 26 with the protrusion 48 inserted between the
tragus 13 and anti-tragus 15 of the ear for retention of the outer
ear section 24 in the outer ear, the transverse flexibility of the
tube 20 facilitates insertion of the earpiece 12 in the ear canal
14 and the rigidity of the tube 20 along its longitudinal extension
will prevent the earpiece 12 from falling out of the ear canal 14
when the outer ear section is positioned at the outer ear in front
of the pinna as shown in FIG. 12.
[0102] The outer ear section 24 accommodates the hearing device
components (not shown), such as the microphone(s), amplifier,
battery, controls, electrical contacts and connectors, etc.
[0103] The earpiece of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 11 may
be substituted with one of the earpieces of FIGS. 4-6.
[0104] FIG. 13 shows in perspective, a hearing device according to
a sixth embodiment of the present invention, having a housing 10
with an open canal section shown in FIGS. 4-6 that is adapted to be
positioned in the ear canal 14 of a wearer comfortably fitting the
ear canal 14 for retention of the earpiece 12 in the ear of the
wearer. The earpiece 12 has an output port 16 for emission of sound
towards the eardrum of the wearer. The earpiece 12 further has a
vent 22 (not shown) that allows sounds outside and within the ear
to pass through the ear canal through the earpiece 12 thereby
substantially eliminating the occlusion effect when the earpiece 12
is inserted into the ear canal of the wearer.
[0105] The housing 10 further comprises an outer ear section 24
that is connected to the earpiece 12 for accommodation of hearing
device components and adapted for positioning at the outer ear in
front of the pinna during use as shown in FIG. 14. The outer ear
section 24 further comprises a bow 49 that is adapted to be
positioned behind the pinna like spectacles and that is
mechanically interconnected with the outer ear section 24. In the
illustrated embodiment, the bow 49 and the outer ear section 24
form separate units that are manufactured in separate pieces. The
bow 49 assists in retaining the housing 10 at the outer ear in
front of the wearer's pinna during use.
[0106] The outer ear section 24 and the earpiece 12 are
interconnected with a substantially rigid sound tube 20 (not
visible). The sound tube 20 provides a sound propagation path for
sound signals emitted by a receiver (not shown) positioned in the
outer ear section 24 of the hearing device 10 to the output port 16
at the end of the earpiece 12 for transmission of the sound to the
eardrum (not shown) in the ear canal 14. The sound tube 20 is
flexible in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension
of the tube 20; however, the tube 20 is substantially rigid, i.e.
substantially not flexible (compressible or extendable), along its
longitudinal direction thereby providing retention of the earpiece
12 in the ear canal 14 of the wearer. During positioning of the
outer ear section 24 at the concha 26 and the helix 30 of the ear,
the transverse flexibility of the tube 20 facilitates insertion of
the earpiece 12 in the ear canal 14 and the rigidity of the tube 20
along its longitudinal extension will prevent the earpiece 12 from
falling out of the ear canal 14 when the outer ear section is
positioned at the outer ear in front of the pinna at the concha and
helix as shown in FIG. 14.
[0107] The outer ear section 24 accommodates the hearing device
components (not shown), such as the microphone(s), amplifier,
battery, controls, electrical contacts and connectors, etc.
[0108] The earpiece of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 may
be substituted with the dome 12 shown in FIG. 7.
* * * * *